Toy post office



July 30, 1963 Filed June 19, 1961 J. VADNAI 3,099,389

TOY POST OFFICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 MAIL BOX cARDs-PAPER wENvELoPEs STAMP PAD SPONGE 37 III N '28 com -B -3 -34 POST I OFFICE 4o POST .OFFICE 24 l \s 3 MAIL YOUR LETTERS 50 K E- HER 2s CLOS D k,

27 Stamps Money Orders 25 I Post Cards 26 i I II' as M w .m' .m H P OQL \35 55111 is 54 20' 4 45 T I H F INVENTOR.

JUDITH VADNAI ATTOP/Viy July 30, 1963 J. VADNAl 3,099,389

TOY POST OFFICE Filed June 19, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 I f) 42 TOYLAND POST OFFICE 3 \24 a 25 MAIL YOUR LETTERS 8 5 HERE /-2 2 24 27 J 21 StLmps Money Orders A0 Post Cards \2 N I 2 a SPONGE STAMPS IN 5] H OLDER RU BEER PEcmL DELIIERY STAMPS BAN DS E STAMPS R EGISTERED MAIL STICKERS ml L w 52 {W PLAY STICKERS I 55 STAMPS RUBBER STAMPS AIR MAIL STICKERS MONEY T 25 1 MONEY j 5 BAGS INVENTOR.

MONEY JUDITH VADNAI ORDERS ts L35 gm w J. VADNAI TOY POST OFFICE July 30, 1963 3 Sheets Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1961 INVENTOR.

VADNAI JUDTH BYgw'QW United States This invention concerns a toy post office.

According to the invention there is provided a box to contain supplies such as stamps, postcards, and the like. The box is provided with a plurality of drawers in which the supplies may be stored. A sliding panel in the box serves as both a writing desk and cover.

It is one object of the invention to provide a box adapted for mailing letters and for storing supplies of a toy post ofiice.

Another object is to provide a post office box having a plurality of storage drawers, a mail drawer, and a writing panel and cover.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy post ofiice box according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the post office box, with drawers shown partially open.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the post oflice box in closed condition.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the closed post ofiice box.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a writing panel and cover.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one storage drawer.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are top plan views of other storage drawers.

FIGS. 10-17 are perspective views of various toy post office supplies.

In FIGS. 1-5 is shown a rectangular or cubical toy post office box having a rectangular top 22, rear 24, and side walls 26, 28. The side walls are joined at the open front by a cross bar 30, defining a rectangular opening 32 Bel-ow the bar is a narrow rectangular front opening 34. A large drawer 35 is superimposed on three smaller drawers 36-33. A bottom panel 21 has flange-s 21 21 secured between bar 30 and rear wall 24 and is secured by folded sides 29 to side walls 26, 28 to form a rigid structure, see FIG 5. A panel 40 best shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 is disposed in the front opening 3 4. This panel has end flanges 42, 44. Flange 44 has an inturned lip 45 and flange 42 has a narrow inturned lip 43. A slot 23 is formed on top 22 to receive the lip 43 when the box is closed. Each of the drawers 35-38 and panel 40 has a knob 25 secured by a rivet 27 to the front of the drawer or panel.

Larger drawer 35 has a rectangular front panel 35 provided with a horizontal slot 35' through which toy letters can be inserted. On front panels 3 3 of the smaller drawers are marked indicia 48 indicative of the contents of the drawers. Further indicia 48' on side wall 26 also indicates the contents of the drawers. Indicia 50 on side wall 28 includes play instructions and explanatory matter.

In FIGS. 3-5 is shown the panel 40 mounted on the front of the box 20 and holding the drawers closed. This ice lip 43 is engaged in slot 23 at the top of the box and lip 45 is engaged under cross bar 30. Indicia 31 marked on the panel indicates that the toy post office is closed. This panel can be removed and stored out of the way in opening 34 underneath panel 21. The panel 40 can be withdrawn partially or wholly from the box as shown in FIG. 2 and used as a writing desk. In this position the panel will rest on the front and rear end flanges 42, 44.

In FIGS. 7-9 are shown the several drawers 36, 38. Each of the drawers has an insert 50-52 defining rectangular compartments in the drawer. On the bottoms 53-55 of the drawers are marked legends or indicia 56-58 indicating the types of supplies to be placed in the drawers and serving to assist the young player in organizing the supplies.

FIGS. 10-17 show various types of toy supplies which can be furnished with the toy post ofiice. FIG. 10 shows a cloth or plastic money bag 60 having a drawstring 6 2. FIG. l l shows toy coins 64, of diiferent monetary denominations. FIG. 13 shows toy rubber stamps 66, 66 with various legends 6'7, 68 which can be impressed on the toy letters. A suitable rubber stamp pad (not shown) may be provided. Crayons 69 are shown in FIG. 12. Toy stamps 70, 72 of different monetary denominations are shown in FIG. 14. Plain and picture post cards 74, 74 are shown in FIG. 15. Plain and air mail envelopes 78, 79 are shown in FIG. 16. A stick of play money 75 is shown in FIG. 17. Other toy supplies indicated by the indicia and legends 56-58 at the bottoms of the drawers may be provided.

In playing with the toy post office, the young player will open for business by removing the cover panel 40 and storing it under the box in opening 34. The player can sell stamps, make change, deposit toy letters in the mail box drawer 35, and generally conduct a simulated diversified post office business. The panel 40 can be withdrawn for use as a desk when required.

The toy post office, box 20 is supported on legs 20', but instead of these legs, any suitable platform may be provided or the containers may be sold without legs.

The invention makes it possible to keep the several supplies in an organized condition and teaches habits of neatness and order as well as amuse and instruct the young player in post office play. The several parts insofar as possible may be made of inexpensive paper, cardboard and plastic parts, and the shape of the containers as well as its contents may be changed as desired. These miniature post ofiice toy supply parts may be assorted in a cardboard container.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A toy post oflice box comprising front, rear and side walls, said side walls having semicircular upper portions, a fiat top panel extending between the tops of said front and rear walls, and between said Side walls below said semicircular portions, a vertical panel extending upwardly from said flat top panel to the tops of said semicircular upper portions, an arcuate hood extending from said rear Wall to the top of said vertical panel and conforming to the curvature of said upper portions, said front wall having a large opening therein, a plurality of compartmented drawers slidable into and out of said box through said opening, outwardly projecting knobs on the front of each 5 of said drawers, a bottom panel for said boX, a cross bar below said bottom panel adjacent said front wall, said top panel having a slot therein adjacent its forward edge, a closure panel having a fiat inner surface engageable with said k-onbs, an upper flange and a lower flange at the top 1 and bottom of said closure panel and extending at right angles to said flat inner surface, a short top inner flange cross bar, and a knob on the top of said upper flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,306 Neitzel et al May 3, 1887 702,510 Tracy et al June 17, 1902 1,146,230 Anderson July 13, 1915 2,215,881 Levensten Sept. 24, 1940 

